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But the new discovery suggests there is far greater complexity in the origins of humanity.

Professor Per Ahlberg at Uppsala University, author of the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, said: “What makes this controversial is the age and location of the prints.

“This discovery challenges the established narrative of early human evolution head-on and is likely to generate a lot of debate.

“Whether the human origins research community will accept fossil footprints as conclusive evidence of the presence of hominins in the Miocene of Crete remains to be seen.”

The footprints discovered in Crete (Image: ANDRZEJ BOCZAROWSKI ET AL)

However, writing for the Conversation, the researchers say there is some doubt about the footprints.

They add: “Some might suggest that the distinctive anatomy of a human-like foot could have evolved more than once.

“The tracks could have been made by a hitherto unknown Miocene primate that had a foot anatomy and locomotive style not unlike our own.

“There are examples throughout the fossil record of what is called ‘convergent evolution’—two unrelated animals developing similar anatomical features as adaptations to a particular lifestyle.”